All Eurostar services to and from London have been cancelled until further notice due to strike action affecting the cross-Channel route. Eurotunnel’s LeShuttle services on the same route have also been hit. This has sparked significant travel disruption for many people starting their Christmas holidays. It is unclear how long the industrial action will last, but Eurotunnel is working to resolve the situation as soon as possible.
Additionally, there are no trains from London Euston station on Thursday due to damaged overhead power cables between Milton Keynes and Watford Junction. This has caused the station to be closed to incoming passengers. Network Rail engineers are currently utilizing drones to assess the damage.
A range of Eurotunnel staff went on strike, resulting in suspensions of services through the Channel Tunnel. Eurostar, which operates high-speed passenger trains on the same route, has offered to exchange tickets free of charge or provide refunds to affected customers. Eurotunnel is providing bookings on ferries as an alternative mode of transportation, thanks to an agreement with ferry companies.
Unions started the strike at 11:00 GMT, and there is presently no indication of how long it may last due to French union law. Staff at Eurotunnel were offered a discretionary bonus of €1,000 (£867), but unions are requesting three times that amount. Chris Tirifahy-McCabe, along with hundreds of others, are trying to make alternative travel arrangements via St Pancras, but with communication sporadically available, they are faced with much uncertainty.
The storm has already disrupted travel in parts of the UK, including Scotland, and British Airways has also had to rearrange its flight schedule. Rail operator TransPennine Express has issued “do not travel” warnings for services to and from Edinburgh before 15:00. The British Transport Police officers watched over long queues of Eurostar customers at the entrance to St Pancras International station in London while transport networks try to manage this busy period of the year
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